Raasay with a population of just 160 people is a very small island situated between Skye and the mainland. Raasay’s meal mill, built circa 1760 beside the Inverarish Burn, was situated within and close to the large productive agricultural areas of the estate being worked by MacLeod of Raasay’s tenants.

Our first knowledge of a working meal mill is in 1773 Dr. Johnson writes, "like other hilly countries it has many rivulets. One of its brooks turns a corn mill, and at least one produces trout." It would seem logical to build a meal mill on an island famous for exporting mill wheels, an essential commodity in those times. In 1776, it cost £1-5s-0d to bring Miln Stones from Raasay to Gairloch Mill and in 1778 to the expenses of the Miln Stone £0-6s-0d to the Gairloch Mill.

In 1846 George Rainy bought the estate for £27,600 after the MacLeods of Raasay became bankrupt. Cheap meal could be purchased on the east coast from 1850-51, and since Rainy had depleted the population by 56% by 1854, there were few tenants able to produce grain, and so a meal mill would no longer be a viable proposition. George Rainy became involved with tree planting and timber production. In the 1850s the meal mill became a saw mill to process Rainy's timber.

In 1876, W.J. Edward Herbert Wood bought the Raasay Estate and between then and 1901, a wooden extension was built onto the original meal mill. On the O.S. map of 1901, the sawmill is clearly visible along with the mill’s sluice system and mill pond. To mill the timber, the Woods family installed a steam engine as the water power was not sufficient.

Muileann Àrais will help to sustain and develop both the economy and cultural heritage of the remote and fragile island of Raasay by encouraging wider access to the collections, facilities and activities of Raasay Heritage Trust. It will encourage a wider range of visitors onto the island using the focus of a quality centre of excellence to orientate people to the assets of the island, encourage day trips and longer stays and increased visitor spend, resulting in real benefit for all in the community. It will also create a focus for local people to celebrate their heritage and for the many people (many of them descendants of the families who were cleared) who return to Raasay looking for their roots.

All internal insulation has been generously supplied by the makers of Kingspan. Their high performance products have thermal conductivities as low as 0.022W/m.K and the premium performance products have thermal conductivities as low as 0.020 W/m.K. So much insulation has been used in order to be as Green as possible. Concomitant low electrical usage infrared ceiling heaters have been purchased and will run by Solar Panels installed on the heritage centre roof. Solar generation will go directly to the grid and reduce our electricity bill.

Currently we require to fundraise in order to complete the final stage of the project. The funds raised will be used to provide:

purchase interior doors and concomitant fixtures and fittings; buy and install skirting;

2nd fix electrics and plumbing;

purchase and install smoke alarms;

purchase and install extractor fans;

floor to be tiled throughout building;

specialised flooring to be installed above  internal mill workings;

kit out kitchen, office and store room;

install storage areas throughout building;

install all utilities;

paint interior of building;

install septic tank;

install and purchase emergency exit signs;

install two glass bi-fold doors;

purchase and install beam for bi-fold doors;

purchase and install solar panels;

purchase and install externall drainage;

finish taping and filling;

landscape area.